15 Facts You've Believed This Whole Time That Are Pure BS

1. Napoleon Was Short

Art and plenty of movies (looking at you, Bill & Ted) portray the master general and emperor of France as just a few inches above five feet. The truth is, the "Little General" was measured at 5 feet 2 inches in French units, which were larger than the ones used regularly. That meant Napoleon was actually 5 feet 7 inches - a more average height.

2. Children Experience A Rush From Too Much Sugar

Scientists made a link between children's consumption and hyperactivity almost 40 years ago, Since then, the dreaded "sugar rush" is a reason parents keep the soda and candy out of arms' reach from their kids. However, in 1995 there was a massive study that proved there was no link to either.

Still hasn't helped kill the myth, though.

3. Your Blood Is Blue Before It Hits Oxygen

Facts are facts on this one - your blood is always red-colored. It's the shades of red that make it look blue to our eyes. Oxygen-deprived blood is a deeper red or maroon, and when inside deeper veins will look blue from how little blue light it will absorb and bounce back in our visual wavelength.

4. The Left/Right Brain Work Differently

Neuroscience firmly says that this is complete nonsense. Each side of the brain is known as the center for either you analytical or creative side. We use both sides just the same 24/7. This arose from studies in the '60s and '70s where the subjects had their hemispheres surgically divided.

5. Dogs Sweat From Their Tongue

There is a big difference between "sweating" and what dogs need their tongues for when it's hot. That is their primary way of bringing hot blood directly to their skin to cool off. As far as actually sweating, dogs rarely do that, and if it does occur that happens through their paw pads.

6. You Can Kill Someone By Throwing A Penny From The Empire State Building

7. Don't Go Outside With Wet Hair, You'll Catch A Cold

Everyone has the idea wet hair outside in the cold is a remedy for illnesses up the wazoo. Here's the thing - the cold and flu are viruses that don't discriminate between hair condition. Your chances of catching a cold always depend on the proximity to a virus and other stressors.

8. You Can See The Great Wall Of China From Space

Of all the Seven Wonders of the World, this is the one that really gets this distinction alone. But when China's first astronaut came back from his time in space he admitted that he couldn't see the landmark with the naked eye. China was pretty disappointed and had to rewrite a lot of their history books.

9. Mount Everest Is The Tallest Mountain In The World

It is the tallest if measured above sea level, but two others have taller heights. The Chimborazo in Ecuador reaches the farthest point on the Earth's surface if measured from the Earth's center. Mauna Kea in Hawaii is larger in size, but a lot of its base is under the sea.

10. Glass Is A Slow-Moving Liquid

People are told this one, then touch the thicker bottom of glass panes to prove it. But science shows that the ratios of liquid-like molecules to solid-like ones change over time, favoring the solid side. This continues until the solid-like areas take over and become ideal (solid glass) everywhere.

11. There Are Five Senses

Sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch - the classic group are still in textbooks. There are so many that are left out - balance, time and pain are also some of them. Other ones like the sense of not walking into things add up to almost 20 human senses.

12. MSG Gives You Headaches

A lot of people won't eat Chinese food for fear of headaches or migraines. The American Chemical Society says it only affects some people, so if you treated it like you would regular salt you'd be fine. Also, there's MSG in tomatoes and cheese as well, and most people aren't hurting from pizza.

13. A Chameleon Changes Its Color For Camouflage

This color-changing lizard is cool as hell, but that trait doesn't happen to blend into the environment. It does it to adjust its body heat - dark to absorb, light to reflect. It can also do it when it feels aggressive or wants to attract a mate.

15. Your Hair And Nails Keep Growing After Death

When the zombie apocalypse happens people will think the walkers will need haircuts. No, the reality is as the corpse dries out, the skin retracts and exposes more of the hair and nails. That's what makes it look like the nails and hair appear longer.

15 Facts You've Believed This Whole Time That Are Pure BS

1. Napoleon Was Short

Art and plenty of movies (looking at you, Bill & Ted) portray the master general and emperor of France as just a few inches above five feet. The truth is, the "Little General" was measured at 5 feet 2 inches in French units, which were larger than the ones used regularly. That meant Napoleon was actually 5 feet 7 inches - a more average height.

2. Children Experience A Rush From Too Much Sugar

Scientists made a link between children's consumption and hyperactivity almost 40 years ago, Since then, the dreaded "sugar rush" is a reason parents keep the soda and candy out of arms' reach from their kids. However, in 1995 there was a massive study that proved there was no link to either.

Still hasn't helped kill the myth, though.

3. Your Blood Is Blue Before It Hits Oxygen

Facts are facts on this one - your blood is always red-colored. It's the shades of red that make it look blue to our eyes. Oxygen-deprived blood is a deeper red or maroon, and when inside deeper veins will look blue from how little blue light it will absorb and bounce back in our visual wavelength.

15 Facts You've Believed This Whole Time That Are Pure BS

1. Napoleon Was Short

Art and plenty of movies (looking at you, Bill & Ted) portray the master general and emperor of France as just a few inches above five feet. The truth is, the "Little General" was measured at 5 feet 2 inches in French units, which were larger than the ones used regularly. That meant Napoleon was actually 5 feet 7 inches - a more average height.

2. Children Experience A Rush From Too Much Sugar

Scientists made a link between children's consumption and hyperactivity almost 40 years ago, Since then, the dreaded "sugar rush" is a reason parents keep the soda and candy out of arms' reach from their kids. However, in 1995 there was a massive study that proved there was no link to either.

Still hasn't helped kill the myth, though.

3. Your Blood Is Blue Before It Hits Oxygen

Facts are facts on this one - your blood is always red-colored. It's the shades of red that make it look blue to our eyes. Oxygen-deprived blood is a deeper red or maroon, and when inside deeper veins will look blue from how little blue light it will absorb and bounce back in our visual wavelength.

4. The Left/Right Brain Work Differently

Neuroscience firmly says that this is complete nonsense. Each side of the brain is known as the center for either you analytical or creative side. We use both sides just the same 24/7. This arose from studies in the '60s and '70s where the subjects had their hemispheres surgically divided.

5. Dogs Sweat From Their Tongue

There is a big difference between "sweating" and what dogs need their tongues for when it's hot. That is their primary way of bringing hot blood directly to their skin to cool off. As far as actually sweating, dogs rarely do that, and if it does occur that happens through their paw pads.

15 Facts You've Believed This Whole Time That Are Pure BS

1. Napoleon Was Short

Art and plenty of movies (looking at you, Bill & Ted) portray the master general and emperor of France as just a few inches above five feet. The truth is, the "Little General" was measured at 5 feet 2 inches in French units, which were larger than the ones used regularly. That meant Napoleon was actually 5 feet 7 inches - a more average height.

15 Facts You've Believed This Whole Time That Are Pure BS

1. Napoleon Was Short

Art and plenty of movies (looking at you, Bill & Ted) portray the master general and emperor of France as just a few inches above five feet. The truth is, the "Little General" was measured at 5 feet 2 inches in French units, which were larger than the ones used regularly. That meant Napoleon was actually 5 feet 7 inches - a more average height.

2. Children Experience A Rush From Too Much Sugar

Scientists made a link between children's consumption and hyperactivity almost 40 years ago, Since then, the dreaded "sugar rush" is a reason parents keep the soda and candy out of arms' reach from their kids. However, in 1995 there was a massive study that proved there was no link to either.

3. Your Blood Is Blue Before It Hits Oxygen

Facts are facts on this one - your blood is always red-colored. It's the shades of red that make it look blue to our eyes. Oxygen-deprived blood is a deeper red or maroon, and when inside deeper veins will look blue from how little blue light it will absorb and bounce back in our visual wavelength.

4. The Left/Right Brain Work Differently

Neuroscience firmly says that this is complete nonsense. Each side of the brain is known as the center for either you analytical or creative side. We use both sides just the same 24/7. This arose from studies in the '60s and '70s where the subjects had their hemispheres surgically divided.

5. Dogs Sweat From Their Tongue

There is a big difference between "sweating" and what dogs need their tongues for when it's hot. That is their primary way of bringing hot blood directly to their skin to cool off. As far as actually sweating, dogs rarely do that, and if it does occur that happens through their paw pads.

7. Don't Go Outside With Wet Hair, You'll Catch A Cold

Everyone has the idea wet hair outside in the cold is a remedy for illnesses up the wazoo. Here's the thing - the cold and flu are viruses that don't discriminate between hair condition. Your chances of catching a cold always depend on the proximity to a virus and other stressors.

8. You Can See The Great Wall Of China From Space

Of all the Seven Wonders of the World, this is the one that really gets this distinction alone. But when China's first astronaut came back from his time in space he admitted that he couldn't see the landmark with the naked eye. China was pretty disappointed and had to rewrite a lot of their history books.

9. Mount Everest Is The Tallest Mountain In The World

It is the tallest if measured above sea level, but two others have taller heights. The Chimborazo in Ecuador reaches the farthest point on the Earth's surface if measured from the Earth's center. Mauna Kea in Hawaii is larger in size, but a lot of its base is under the sea.

10. Glass Is A Slow-Moving Liquid

People are told this one, then touch the thicker bottom of glass panes to prove it. But science shows that the ratios of liquid-like molecules to solid-like ones change over time, favoring the solid side. This continues until the solid-like areas take over and become ideal (solid glass) everywhere.

11. There Are Five Senses

Sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch - the classic group are still in textbooks. There are so many that are left out - balance, time and pain are also some of them. Other ones like the sense of not walking into things add up to almost 20 human senses.

12. MSG Gives You Headaches

A lot of people won't eat Chinese food for fear of headaches or migraines. The American Chemical Society says it only affects some people, so if you treated it like you would regular salt you'd be fine. Also, there's MSG in tomatoes and cheese as well, and most people aren't hurting from pizza.

13. A Chameleon Changes Its Color For Camouflage

This color-changing lizard is cool as hell, but that trait doesn't happen to blend into the environment. It does it to adjust its body heat - dark to absorb, light to reflect. It can also do it when it feels aggressive or wants to attract a mate.

15. Your Hair And Nails Keep Growing After Death

When the zombie apocalypse happens people will think the walkers will need haircuts. No, the reality is as the corpse dries out, the skin retracts and exposes more of the hair and nails. That's what makes it look like the nails and hair appear longer.